Indonesian Police Representative Discuss Rohingya Wave To Aceh With Cross-State In Bangkok

Participants in the Roundtable on Combating Maritime People Smuggling Activities in the Andaman Sea while taking a photo together, in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday (19/2/2024) (ANTARA/HO/Humas Polresta Banda Aceh)

BANDA ACEH - Banda Aceh Police Chief discussed the wave of Rohingya ethnic arrivals to Aceh with cross-border representatives during the Roundtable on Combating Maritime People Smuggling Activities in the Andaman Sea, in Bangkok, Thailand.

"This roundtable discussion is an exchange of information and investigative steps that will be agreed upon for the purpose of joint steps (related to the handling of Rohingya)," said Banda Aceh Police Chief, Kombes Pol Fahmi Irwan Ramli as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 19.

The activity was attended by delegates from Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam. As well as involving UN organizations, including IOM, UNHCR and UNODC

Fahmi said that the turmoil in the arrival of the Rohingya ethnicity to Indonesia, especially Aceh, has continued to increase in recent months.

During the past two days, his party discussed the latest developments in the situation related to the increasing wave of Rohingya refugees, which indicated human smuggling into Indonesia, in this case Aceh.

He explained that human smuggling through the Andaman sea area is a big challenge for countries that are members of the Bali Process, and are a threat to regional security.

Where, the Bali Process Forum has observed a sudden major spike in the movement of dangerous migration in the Andaman Sea in recent months, with strong indications that it involves organized criminal syndicates between nations.

"In response to this issue, real and easy cooperation is needed to prevent and fight crime," he said.

The joint steps that can be taken include encouraging the strengthening of information exchanges related to the organized human smuggling crime syndicate network.

Then, identification and in-depth investigation identify criminal groups that facilitate human smuggling crimes in the Andaman Sea Area.

"As well as producing a joint draft for collaboration between countries in preventing human smuggling crimes," said Kombes Fahmi.